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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam

The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.

Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.

Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!

Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.

Click here to report a problem with this page.

 

 

Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:

Fraud email example:

From: "Atilio Benedito" (may be fake)
Reply-To: <atiliobeneditomail@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2011 03:44:49 -0700
Subject: My Dear Friend ( From Atilio Benedito)

>From Atilio Benedito
29/06/11

My name is Atilio Benedito a retired Portugeese Oil Merchant .
I have been diagnosed with Esophageal cancer. It has defiled all forms
of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to
live.
According to medical experts. I have not particularly lived my life so
well, as I never really cared for anyone (not even myself) but my
business.

Though I am very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to
people and only focused on my business as that was the only thing I
cared for. But now I regret all this as I now know
that there is more to life than just wanting to have or make all the
money in the world. I believe when God gives me a second chance to
come to this world, I would live my life a different way from how I
have lived it.
Now that God has called me, I have willed and given most of my
property and assets to my immediate and extended family members as
well as few close friends .I want God to be
merciful to me and accept my soul so, I have decided to give arms to
charity organizations and those in Need, as I want this to be one of
the last good deeds I do on earth.

So far, I have Distributed money to some charity organizations when I
was well. Now that my health has deteriorated so badly, I cannot do
this myself anymore. I once asked members of my family to close one of
my accounts and distribute the money which I have there to charity
organization in United States, Asia, Middle East & Europe, they
refused and kept the money to themselves.

Hence, I do not trust them anymore, as they seem not to be contended
with what I have left for them. The last of my money which no one
knows of is the huge cash deposit of thirty eight Million United
States Dollars ($38, 000,000.00) that I have with an Asset Management
/ Vaulting Company Abroad. I would want you to help me collect this
deposit and dispatch it to charity organizations and use it to help
those in Need

.N/B: Kindly note that

40% of this funds must go to victims of Flood in Japan, Haiti
earthquake, Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina , Hurricane Wilma and South
Asia Earthquake , 55% to other Charity Organizations around the World
and 10% for your effort and time.

I cannot talk with you on the phone due to my health situation, as Iam
using my Lap Top Computer to communicate with you.

You should respond to this e-mail if you are interested in carrying
out this assignment on my behalf.
May the peace of God be with you.

Mr Atilio Benedito
>From Portugal & Urgent Reply Needed

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